Wisdom Of Solomon 14
1 Again, one preparing himself to
sail, and about to pass through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood
more rotten than the vessel that carrieth him.
2 For verily desire of gain devised
that, and the workman built it by his skill.
3 But thy providence, O Father,
governeth it: for thou hast made a way in the sea, and a safe path in the
waves; 4 shewing that thou canst save
from all danger: yea, though a man went to sea without art.
5 Nevertheless thou wouldest not that
the works of thy wisdom should be idle, and therefore do men commit their
lives to a small piece of wood, and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are
saved.
6 For in the old time also, when the
proud giants perished, the hope of the world governed by thy hand escaped in a
weak vessel, and left to all ages a seed of generation.
7 For blessed is the wood whereby
righteousness cometh.
8 But that which is made with hands is
cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he, because he made it: and it,
because, being corruptible, it was called God.
9 For the ungodly and his ungodliness
are both alike hateful unto God.
10 For that which is made shall be
punished together with him that made it.
11 Therefore even upon the idols of
the Gentiles shall there be a visitation: because in the creature of God they
are become an abomination, and stumblingblocks to the souls of men, and a
snare to the feet of the unwise.
12 For the devising of idols was the
beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention
of them the corruption of life.
13 For neither were they from the
beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
14 For by the vain glory of men they
entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end.
15 For a father afflicted with
untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away,
now honoured him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those
that were under him ceremonies and sacrifices.
16 Thus in process of time an ungodly
custom grown strong was kept as a law, and graven images were worshipped by
the commandments of kings. 17 Whom
men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they took the
counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king whom
they honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter
him that was absent, as if he were present.
18 Also the singular diligence of the
artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
19 For he, peradventure willing to
please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the
best fashion. 20 And so the
multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a
little before was but honoured as a man.
21 And this was an occasion to
deceive the world: for men, serving either calamity or tyranny, did ascribe
unto stones and stocks the incommunicable name.
22 Moreover this was not enough for
them, that they erred in the knowledge of God; but whereas they lived in the
great war of ignorance, those so great plagues called they peace.
23 For whilst they slew their
children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of
strange rites; 24 they kept neither
lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another
traiterously or grieved him by adultery.
25 So that there reigned in all men
without exception, blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption,
unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
26 disquieting of good men,
forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in
marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.
27 For the worshipping of idols not
to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.
28 For either they are mad when they
be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear
themselves. 29 For insomuch as their
trust is in idols which have no life, though they swear falsely, yet they look
not to be hurt.
30 Howbeit for both causes shall they
be justly punished: both because they thought not well of God, giving heed
unto idols, and also unjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness.
31 For it is not the power of them by
whom they swear: but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth
always the offence of the ungodly.